Shoelace locking structure

ABSTRACT

A shoelace locking structure used in a shoe for locking two opposite ends of a shoelace is disclosed to include a locating plate affixed to a tongue of the shoe, two locating rods arranged on the locating plate for the winding of the ends of the shoelace respectively, and two strips of hook and loop materials located on the shoe at two opposite lateral sides relative to the locating plate for securing the ends of the shoelace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to shoelace positioning technology andmore particularly, to a shoelace locking structure for easily andrapidly securing the ends of the shoelace of a shoe. 2. Description ofthe Related Art:

When wearing a shoe, the ends of the shoelace of the shoe must be tiedup. The most common way to join the ends of the shoelace of a shoe is totie up the ends of the shoelace into a butterfly knot. This method hasdrawbacks: (1) it takes much time and labor to tie up the ends of theshoelace of a shoe into a butterfly knot: (2) To a young child, it isdifficult to tie up the ends of the shoelace of a shoe into a butterflyknot; (3) The butterfly knot tends to come loose; and (4) The butterflyknot seems to become an unwanted fixture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is one object of the present invention to provide a shoelacelocking structure, which facilitates rapid locking of the ends of ashoelace of a shoe without tying up the ends of the shoelace into aknot. It is another object of the present invention to provide ashoelace locking structure, which enables a young child to lock the endsof a shoelace of a shoe and to untie the ends of the shoelace rapidlyand easily. It is still another object of the present invention toprovide a shoelace locking structure, which can lock the ends of ashoelace of a shoe positively, avoiding loosening.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a shoelacelocking structure is used in a shoe for locking two opposite ends of ashoelace, comprising a locating plate affixed to a tongue of the shoe,two locating rods arranged on the locating plate for the winding of theends of the shoelace respectively, and two strips of hook and loopmaterials located on the shoe at two opposite lateral sides relative tothe locating plate for securing the ends of the shoelace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a shoelace locking structure used in ashoe in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1, illustrating the shoelace lockingstructure assembled.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2, illustrating the ends of the shoelacewound round the first locating rod and the second locating rod.

FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3, illustrating the ends of the shoelacelocked to the strips of hook and loop materials.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate form of the shoelace locking structurein accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, illustrating the ends of the shoelacelocked.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another alternate form of the shoelacelocking structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an assembly view of the shoelace locking structure shown inFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a part of still another alternate form ofthe shoelace locking structure in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a shoelace locking structure in accordance withthe present invention is shown comprising a locating plate 10 affixed tothe tongue 2 of a shoe and defining a transversely extending insertionhole 11, a strip of hook and loop materials 16 located on each of twoopposing flaps 1 of the shoe, a first locating rod 12, a connection rod14 formed integral with one end of the first locating rod 12 andinserted into the insertion hole 11 of the locating plate 10 and asecond locating rod 13 fastened to the distal end of the connection rod14 with a screw 15.

The operation and effects of the present invention will be outlinedhereinafter. At first, wound the two ends of the shoelace 3 of the shoeround the first locating rod 12 and the second locating rod 13respectively (see FIG. 3), and then attach the ends of the shoelace 3 tothe two trips of hook and loop materials 16 respectively (see FIG. 3),and then fasten up each strip of hook and loop material 16 (by attachingthe hook materials to the associating loop materials) to let the twoends of the shoelace 3 be firmly secured to the two trips of hook andloop materials 16 respectively (see FIG. 4). Thus, the ends of theshoelace 3 are locked. When wishing to untie the shoelace 3, pull outeach strip of hook and loop material 16 to disengage the hook materialsfrom the associating loop materials, or directly move the winding partof the shoelace 3 out of the first locating rod 12 and the secondlocating rod 13 without opening the strips of hook and loop material 16.

Thus, the invention has advantages: (a) simply by winding the ends ofthe shoelace 3 round the first locating rod 12 and the second locatingrod 13 and fastening up each strip of hook and loop material 16, theends of the shoelace 3 are rapidly and positively locked; (b) looseningthe ends of the shoelace 3 is also easy and rapid; (c) before openingthe strips of hook and loop material 16, the ends of the shoelace 3 arepositively locked and will not come loose; and (d) it is not necessaryto tie up the ends of the shoelace 3 into a knot, and the ends of theshoelace 3 are kept from sight.

Further, the invention can be variously embodied. FIGS. 5-9 show variousalternate forms of the present invention. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the strips of hook and loop material 16 are located onthe locating plate 10 for securing the ends of the shoelace 3 afterwinding of the ends of the shoelace 3 round the first locating rod 12and the second locating rod 13 respectively. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the first locating rod 12, the locating plate. referencedby 17, carries a design, and the second locating rod 13 and theconnection rod 14 are made in integrity and affixed to the locatingplate 17 by a screw 15. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the firstlocating rod 12 and the second locating rod 13 are reversely curved.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

1. A shoelace locking structure used in a shoe for locking two oppositeends of a shoelace. comprising: a locating plate affixed to a tongue ofsaid shoe; two locating rods arranged on said locating plate for thewinding of the ends of said shoelace respectively; and two strips ofhook and loop materials located on said shoe at two opposite lateralsides relative to said locating plate for securing the ends of saidshoelace.
 2. The shoelace locking structure as claimed in claim 1,wherein said locating rods are respectively curved in one direction. 3.The shoelace locking structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said twolocating rods are connected together by a connection rod.
 4. Theshoelace locking structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locatingplate carries a design.
 5. The shoelace locking structure as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said strips of hook and loop materials are bilaterallyarranged on said locating plate.